Many classic cars are lavished with wooden trim, from dashboards to door capping’s. Other classic cars are even made of wood, such as pre-war vintage vehicles and classic cars such as our Practical Classics Morris Minor Traveller demonstration car.

With time, inevitably the original finish of wood both on the interior and exterior of a classic car deteriorates and needs refurbishment. Various elements attack wood from water ingress and damp to sun bleaching and extremes of temperature that may cause bleaching and cracking.

In this classic car maintenance video, Ed Hughes discusses the first thing to consider – whether classic car wood can be saved, treated or restored or whether it is so badly stained, rotten or weak that replacement is the only alternative. Having established that, he looks at the first stage of surface preparation when reviving wood on a classic car, which is removing the old varnish and coverings. This is essential to remove any staining and also to create a surface ready for preserving and finishing. This Skillshack tuition video shows you a practical demonstration of how to remove varnish without damaging the wood substrate.

In the second half of our cold engine check, Danny and Clive disengage the spark plug leads to take a closer look at the quality and cleanliness of the spark plugs. They also inspect the brake and clutch fluid reservoirs, oil and coolant. Before cracking on to the warm engine inspection, be sure to walk through each of the components Danny and Clive cover, looking for damage and other abnormalities.

As with most projects in the garage, it’s important to first learn the essential techniques and then challenge yourself on the more complicated scenarios. To help you gain an introductory understanding of classic car electrics, Danny Hopkins and Ed Hughes are here to demonstrate a number of simple car maintenance projects that focus on classic car electrics. With each of the five classes in this course, you’ll discover a new technique that you can implement in your own garage and grow more confident as a classic car restorer.

First things first in basic engine maintenance on a classic car are some simple tips for servicing the engine. There are a number of components on a car’s engine that require regular inspection and scheduled replacements.

More often than not, an electrical issue on a classic car is as simple as adjusting a fuse or correcting a faulty wire. For those times when it’s just a bit more complicated, Ed teaches you how to read a circuit diagram on your classic car to discover where the faulty component might be in your car’s system.

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